Centralized communication hub

• US 9,007,423 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/849,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.07, 379/142.17, 379/93.09, 379/93.17, 379/93.15, 379/93.21, 348/14.05, 348/14.04
• US Class Current: 348/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that relate to a centralized communication hub at a user location for coordination of receiving/sending phone calls, SMS/MMS messages, and requests for video conferences to/from a display. A user may indicate that she wishes to receive a call/message by selecting an option on a remote control associated with the display. A microphone and/or camera connected to a gateway may provide audiovisual capabilities during a call. In a separate embodiment, the functionality of the communication hub may be split between two devices; one device detects incoming calls and a separate device routes the calls/messages to/from the appropriate gateway.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a telephone-connected network device, and via a splitter device, a caller ID message related to an incoming telephone call;

converting the caller ID message into a converted caller ID message having a first predetermined format for transmission via internet protocol (IP);

transmitting, via at least one frequency outside of an isolation range of the splitter device, the converted caller ID message via the splitter device to a display device configured to cause display of the converted caller ID message; and

establishing a video conference for a user via a camera in communication with the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the converted caller ID message comprises transmitting the converted caller ID message via a protocol defined by Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the display device, a signal configured to answer the incoming telephone call if a second device selects to answer the incoming telephone call.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting the converted caller ID message to the display device comprises transmitting the converted caller ID message to the display device using a remote control.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

converting the audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into converted audio signals having a second predetermined format.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting the converted audio signals to a speaker associated with the display device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the converting the audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into the converted audio signals having the second predetermined format comprises converting the audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into the converted audio signals using the G.711 standard.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving video signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

converting the video signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into converted video signals having a third predetermined format.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the converting the video signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into the converted video signals having the third predetermined format comprises converting the video signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into the converted video signals using the H.264 standard.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

encapsulating the video signals having the third predetermined format using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the converted video signals to the display device for display on the display device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the camera to display a picture within a picture on the display device.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, via internet protocol (IP) via a splitter device, a converted caller ID message communicated via at least one frequency outside of an isolation range of the splitter device, related to an incoming telephone call in a predetermined format;

causing display of the converted caller ID message on a display device;

receiving a signal from a first device indicative of a decision to answer the incoming telephone call; and

establishing a video conference for a user via a camera in communication with the display device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the converted caller ID message is received via a protocol defined by Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA).

16. A method comprising:

converting, at a telephone-connected network device, a caller ID message associated with an incoming telephone call into a converted caller ID message having a first predetermined format for transmission via internet protocol (IP) via at least one frequency outside of an isolation range of a splitter device, and the converted caller ID message configured for display on a first device; and

establishing a video conference for a user via a camera in communication with the first device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call; and

converting the audio signals corresponding to the incoming telephone call into converted audio signals having a second predetermined format.

17. A method comprising:

configuring, at a location, a device to convert a caller ID message of an incoming telephone call having a first format into a modified caller ID message of a second format and transmitting, via internet protocol (IP) and via a splitter device, via at least one frequency outside of an isolation range of the splitter device, the modified caller ID message for display on a remote device; and

configuring the device to establish a video conference for a user via a camera in communication with the remote device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the modified caller ID message to the remote device comprises transmitting the modified caller ID message to the remote device using a remote control.